History

G4S has a heritage of more than 100 years...

1901–1950: Our foundation in Denmark, our national growth, our first moves into overseas territories and the emergence of Securitas International…

1901

• Marius Hogrefe starts the guarding company Kjøbenhavn Frederiksberg Nattevagt in Denmark.

1906

• Sophus Falck establishes Redningskorpset, an independent fire and rescue service.

1908 

• Redningskorpset establishes the first automobile ambulance in Scandinavia.

1930 

• Falck becomes a nationwide operator in Denmark.

1934 

• The Philip-Sørensen family establishes Securitas AB in Sweden.

1935 

• Night Watch Services (later Night Guards) starts up with four guards on bicycles.

1950 

• The Philip-Sørensen family businesses are consolidated as Securitas International.

1951–1989: The emergence of Securicor and Group 4, changes in the role of the Philip-Sørensen family, and a partnership with British Telecom…

1951

• Night Guards becomes Securicor.

1960 

• Securicor become a nationwide operator in the UK and expands into Africa and Asia.

1963 

• Falck buys Zonen Redningskorps, an independent fire and rescue service in Denmark.

1965 

• Securicor launches the Data Transit Service, a fleet of vans moving customers’ confidential payroll and banking details from central locations to regional offices. 
• Jørgen Philip-Sørensen is appointed managing director of his family’s UK businesses.

1968 

• The Philip-Sørensen group of companies becomes Group 4 (Total Security).

1971 

• Securicor Group Limited and Security Services Limited are listed on the London Stock Exchange.

1981 

• Jørgen Philip-Sørensen takes responsibility for Group 4’s European activities, while his brother Sven Philip-Sørensen takes over Securitas AB in Sweden. 
• Securicor Chairman Peter Smith is awarded the OBE for services to the security industry. 
• Securicor and British Telecommunications plc form the Cellnet cellular network.

1988 

• Falck is acquired by Baltica, a Danish insurance company; Lars Nørby Johansen is appointed Managing Director.

1990–1999: Falck becomes a listed company, Securicor becomes a plc and operations spread across Europe – and beyond…

1990 

• Group 4 provides security services to government and private organisations in Hungary. 
• Securicor establishes its Custodial Services operations.

1991 

• Baltica sells 55% of its shares in Falck. 
• Group 4 acquires businesses in Belgium and Turkey. 
• Group 4 begins managing the first privatised prison in the UK, at Wolds in Humberside.

1993 

• Falck acquires the security business of ISS Securitas, to become Falck Securitas. 
• Group 4 acquires businesses in Austria and Canada. 
• Securicor Custodial Services wins the contract to run the London Metropolitan Court Escort and Custody services.

1994 

• Group 4 establishes operations in the United Arab Emirates and the Ukraine. 
• All activities in Spain are sold to Securitas AB.

1995 

• Falck is listed on the Copenhagen Stock Exchange.

1996 

• Group 4 begins a joint venture with British Gas to provide meter-reading services in the UK, and establishes AccuRead. 
• Falck acquires businesses in Sweden and Norway. 
• Securicor becomes a single plc.

1997 

• Securicor enters the US corrections market. 
• Securicor acquires the first Private Finance Initiative prison in the UK.

1998 

• Securicor forms a joint venture with Deutsche Post, the German post office. 
• Falck acquires businesses in Germany, Poland and Estonia. 
• Group 4 starts activities in Bangladesh.

1999 

• Falck acquires security businesses in the Netherlands and Lithuania. 
• Securicor sells its stake in Cellnet to British Telecommunications plc.

2000-2005: Continued mergers and acquisitions, Group 4 Falck is established and then Group 4 Securicor, the world’s second largest security provider...

• Group 4 and Falck merge to become Group 4 Falck. 
• Group 4 Falck acquires security businesses in Germany, Austria, Finland, the Czech Republic, Norway and Hungary. 
• Securicor acquires businesses in Canada, Africa, Europe, Asia and the US.

2001 

• Group 4 Falck acquires businesses in France and South Africa.

2002 

• Group 4 Falck enters the US security market by acquiring The Wackenhut Corporation, the second largest security services company in the US. 
• Nick Buckles becomes Chief Executive of Securicor.

2003 

• Securicor sells its distribution business to Deutsche Post. 
• Group 4 Falck sells its shares in Wackenhut Correction Corporation and Wackenhut Resources Inc.
  2004 
• Group 4 Falck’s security business merges with Securicor to create Group 4 Securicor in July 2004, and begins trading on the London Stock Exchange. 
• Group 4 Technology acquires a Danish intruder alarm business. 
• Group 4 Securicor’s UK Justice Services business wins three electronic monitoring contracts in England and Wales. 
• Group 4 Falck sells Global Solutions and lists its safety business (Falck A/S) on the Copenhagen Stock Exchange.

2005

• Securicor Canada acquires Universal ATM Services. 
• Group 4 Securicor is officially launched in May 2005. 
• Lars Nørby Johansen is succeeded as Chief Executive by Nick Buckles.

2006–present: G4S becomes a global identity, makes yet more acquisitions and even sets its sights on Olympic gold…

2006

• The G4S brand identity is rolled out worldwide. 
• Wackenhut Services, Inc. wins a key fire protection and emergency response contract with NASA. 
• G4S wins Human Resources Excellence award for “Best Executive Development Programme”. 
• G4S acquires a 50% share in a guarding, alarms and cash services business in Mozambique. 
• Alf Duch-Pedersen succeeds Jorgen Philip-Sorensen, becoming Non Executive Chairman. 
• G4S announces sponsorship of Skandia Team GBR, backing Britain’s Olympic sailing bid in Beijing 2008 and London 2012.

2007 

• G4S enters the FTSE 100 index of leading companies on the London Stock Exchange. 
• G4S makes acquisitions in the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, the Czech Republic, Serbia and Mozambique. 
• G4S begins providing electronic monitoring equipment and services in New Zealand. 
• G4S 4teen, an innovative global sports development programme, is launched.

2008 

• G4S acquires GSL, a leading provider of critical primary and support services and outsourced justice services. 
• G4S is selected as a support contractor for the US Department of Energy. 
• G4S acquires Armorgroup, a leading provider of defensive and protective services to national governments and international peace and security agencies. 
• G4S acquires RONCO Consulting Corporation.
• A landmark agreement reached with UNI, the global union federation, on an Ethical Employment Partnership, driving improvements in employment standards across the security industry.

2009 

• G4S aquires Secura Monde International Limited and Shiremoor International Engineering Limited.
• G4S acquires All Star International, one of the premier facilities management and base operations support companies providing services to the US Government.
• G4S acquires Adesta, US-based provider of integrated security systems and communication systems.
• G4S acquires Hill & Associates Consultants Limited, Asia’s leading provider of specialist risk mitigation consulting services.